Tree clearing work starts Jan. 29 to prepare for Hwy 61 CP Rail bridge replacement near Red Wing
RED WING, Minn. – Motorists on Highway 61 south of Red Wing should be alert for trucks entering and exiting the road beginning Monday, Jan. 29 when crews begin tree clearing work to prepare for this spring’s Highway 61 bridge over CP Rail project, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Trees in the work zone are expected to be cleared by late-February. Trucks and equipment will be exiting and entering Highway 61 from roads on either side of the current bridge over the railroad tracks sound of Red Wing. The work is in preparation for construction replace the Highway 61 bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railway line. Construction for the project is expected to start April 8.
The new Highway 61 bridge over the Canadian Pacific rail line will be constructed to the north of the existing bridge to maintain two-way traffic during construction. Highway construction will begin in spring of 2024. The construction will be completed in phases and use temporary widening to allow enough space for one lane of traffic in each direction. Motorists can expect a reduced speed through the work zone, reduced shoulder widths and temporary shoulder and lane closures. Construction should be complete in fall of 2024.
Once completed, the project will provide:
- A new bridge over the railroad (the original bridge was built in 1955)
- A smoother ride for motorists just south of the correctional facility to Cemstone
- Wider shoulders for bicyclists using the Mississippi River Trail
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